Towel vending machine



Feh, H, 1936., H. F. MAYFIELD TOWEL VENDING MACHINE Filed June 26, 19542 Sheets-Sheet l &

Feb, 11, 1936. H. F. MAYFIELD I TOWEL VENDING MACHINE Filed June/26,1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE10 Claims.

My invention relates to vending machines of the towel type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a vending machine ofthe above mentioned 5 character, which will accurately vend a singletowel upon each operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. vending machine ofthe above mentioned character which is coin controlled.

10 A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of theabove mentioned character which is comparatively simple in constructionand inexpensive to manufacture and which will be reliable in operation.

15 Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are 20 employed to. designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine embodying myinvention, a part of the casing being regarded as transparent, for the 2purpose of illustration,

1 Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 2'--2 ofFigure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the ejector elements or ejectorblocks, 39 Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure2,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the 35 ejector blocks andassociated elements, parts broken away, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the plunger.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of 40 my invention, the numeral I designates avertical casing, having its rear side covered by a hinged door II, whichmay be held closed by any suitable means. By opening this door accessmay be had to the interior of the casing for replenishing the towels andthe like. The door II is equipped with an opening or window I2, throughwhich the towel may be withdrawn, for use. In its bottom, the casing II]has a compartment I3, for receiving the used towels, which pass thereinthrough the opening I4, as shown.

Disposed in the upper portion of the casing I0 is a horizontal towelholding or supporting rod I5, extending parallel with the door II, when55' the door is closed. This horizontal rod has one end rigidly attachedto a plate or bracket I6, which is bolted or otherwise rigidly securedto one side of the casing. The towel supporting rod I5 has its free endterminating near the longitudinal axis of the window I2, and this freeend 5 is bent downwardly into a neck I1, having a chain or flexibleelement I8 attached thereto. The rod I5 is arranged above the window toso support the towels that their lower ends are positioned above thewindow to prevent the im- 10 proper removal of the forwardmost towel.The chain extends downwardly through the casing I0, preferably insubstantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the window I2 andthe lower end of the chain is suitably detachably secured to an anchorelement, such as an eye I9, which is attached to the bottom of thecasing, the chain or flexible element entering the compartment I3through the opening I4. The towels 20, preferably formed of cloth or thelike, are equipped with grommets or rings 2I, which are adapted to bemounted upon the rod I5, as shown.

Disposed above the rod I5 and arranged near the same in spaced parallelrelation, is an ejector element or ejector block carrying rod 22, oneend of which is rigidly attached to the plate I6, while the opposite endmay be suitably rigidly attached to the opposite side of the casing.Permanently mounted upon the rod 22 are ejector elements or ejectorblocks 23, having transverse openings 24 receiving the rod 22, and theseopenings 24 are slightly larger than the diameter of the rod so that theejector elements or ejector blocks may turn somewhat upon theirtransverse axes. Each ejector block or ejector element 23, see moreparticularly Figures 3 and 6, is provided with a pair of dependingspaced fingers 25, having a passage 26 therebetween. The passage 26receives the rod I5. The pairs of fingers of the several ejectorelements or ejector blocks are alternately arranged with respect to thegrommets or rings 2I of the towels, as more clearly shown in Figure 6.

Releasable holding means is provided for the ejector elements or ejectorblocks, comprising a pair of horizontally arranged leaf springs 21,which are disposed upon opposite sides of the rods I5 and 22 and areequi-distantly spaced horizontally and vertically from these rods.Corresponding ends of the leaf springs 21 are rigidly attached to theplate I6, as shown at 28, while the, free ends of these leaf springsterminate inwardly or rearwardly of and near the down turned neck I! ofthe rod I5. At. these free ends, the leaf springs 21 are provided with 5inwardly projecting jaws or extensions 29, which are in advance of andengage with the foremost ejector element or ejector block 23, as it issuccessively brought to this foremost position. The set of ejectorelements or ejector blocks is urged forwardly by compressible coilsprings 3|], mounted upon the rear portions of the rods 22 and I5, asshown.

Arranged above the ejector elements or ejector blocks 23, is a verticaltubular plunger guide 3|, rigidly attached at its upper end to a bracket32, in turn rigidly secured to the top of the casing. This tubular guidereceives a vertical reciprocatory plunger 33, carrying spaced heads orcams 34. The heads or cams 34 are provided with upwardly diverginginclined edges 35. The space or passage 36 between the heads is for thereception of the rods 22 and I5. The plunger is provided at its lowerend with forward and rear, inclined upwardly diverging faces 31 and 31'.The heads 34 extend downwardly below the faces 3'! and 31 for asubstantial distance, as shown. The plunger 33 is also provided with alaterally projecting cam 38 upon the same side with the face 31. The cam38 operates within a slot 39'. It might be stated at this point when theplunger 33 is moved downwardly, the heads 34 first pass between theforwardmost ejector element 23 and the next rear ejector element 23, andthe inclined edges 35 engage and spread the leaf springs 21 so that thejaws 29 release the foremost ejector element 23, shortly before theinclined faces 31 and 31' descend between the two adjacent ejectorelements. The inclined faces 31 and 31 spread the adjacent ejectorelements, and shift the forwardmost ejector element 23 to the rightalong its rod 22. The further downward movement of the plunger 33 causesthe cam face 38 to contact with the foremost ejector element, which isinclined and shift it sufficiently to the right to cause its dependingfingers 25 to move to the right sufliciently to shift the grommet 2| ofthe foremost towel from the forward end of the rod on to the neckwhereby the towel will drop downwardly upon the chain |8.

The plunger 33 is connected with a pin 39, operating through a slot 40in the housing 3| and this pin projects into an elongated slot 4| formedin a lever 42, which is rigidly secured to a horizontal rock shaft 43,suitably journalled in the upper portion of the casing l0 and extendingto the exterior of the casing for connection with a hand lever 44. Thearrangement is such that when this hand lever 44 is swung rearwardly ortoward the operator, the plunger 33 is moved downwardly. The rock shaftis returned to the normal position by a retractile coil spring 45,attached to one end of a lever 46, also rigidly secured to the rockshaft.

Coin controlled or actuated means is employed to regulate the turningmovement of the rock shaft, comprising a coin shute 41, leading to areceptacle or safe 48. This coin shute has a slot 49 formed therein, forthe reception of one end of a lever 50, the opposite end of which ispivotally supported at 5|, and this lever is moved upwardly by aretractile coil spring 52. The lever 50 is pivotally connected at 53with a link 54 which is pivoted at 55 with a dog 56, in turn pivotallysupported at 51, upon a bracket 58. The numeral 58' designates aweighted lever which is rigidly mounted upon a rock shaft 59, journalledin a bearing 60 carried by the bracket 58. Rigidly connected with therock shaft 59' is a crank 6 l, the free end of which has a shoulder 62,to engage behind a shoulder 63 of the dog 56. Disposed upon one side ofthe dog 56 is a vertically arranged dog 64, pivoted at its upper end, at65, with a bracket 66. A retractile coil spring 61 is attached to thelower end of the dog 64. The dog 64 has a shoulder 68 to engage over thefree end of a latch lever 69, which is rigidly attached to the rockshaft 43. The rock shaft 59 carries a cam 65 rigidly attached theretoand provided with a crank extension 61'. The cam 66 is arranged toengage the lower end of the dog 64, and when the weighted lever 58drops, the cam 66 will shift the dog 64 from the latch lever 69 so thatthe shoulder 68 will free the latch lever 69. A link 13 is pivotallyconnected with the crank extension 61 and is provided at its upper endwith a slot 72 to receive a pin 13, carried by the latch lever 69.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

With the several elements of the machine arranged in the startingpositions, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, a suitable coin is inserted intothe chute 4? and this coin strikes the outer end of the lever 50,swinging it downwardly andthis lever moves the link 54 downwardly, whichin turn swings the dog 56 downwardly. When the dog 55 swings downwardlyit disengages the crank 6|, whereby the weighted lever 58 drops to thelowered position. The cam 66' now swings the dog 64 to the right so thatthe shoulder 68 releases latch lever 63. The rock shaft 43 is now freeto be turned and the operator swings the handle 44 rearwardly or towardhim. When the rock shaft 43 is thus turned counterclock-wise lever 42 isswung downwardly, causing the plunger 33 to descend. The heads 34 firstpass between the forward adjacent ejector elements 23, said heads movingdownwardly so'that their inclined edges 35 engage and spread the leafsprings 21. The operation is so timed that the spreading of the leafsprings 2'! will cause the jaws 29 to release the foremost ejectorelement 23, just prior to the passage of the inclined faces 31 and 31between the adjacent pair of ejector elements. When these faces engagebetween the adjacent pair of the ejector elements, such ejector elementsare spread, and the foremost ejector element becomes inclined to someextent longitudinally of the rod 22. The further downward movement ofthe plunger causes the inclined face 31 and the cam 38' to shift theforemost ejector element to the right sufficiently whereby its dependingfingers 25 will shift the grommet 2! of the foremost towel from theright end of the rod l5 so that the grommet passes upon the dependingneck l1 and the grommet and towel will drop down the chain |8. When thisoperation is thus completed, the handle 44 is released and the springsreturn the several elements to their normal starting position, as isobvious. The operator may now insert his hand through the window !2 andwithdraw the vended towel to the exterior of the casing, for use. Thetowel still remains attached to the chain l8, but the chain hassufficient slack so that the towel may be conveniently used. After thetowel has been used,

it is inserted inwardly through the window and may be passed through theopening l4 into the collecting compartment I3.

The ejector elements are all shifted upon the forward portion of the rod22, while all of the grommets and the towels pass from the rod l5. Bydetaching the chain l8 from the eye IS, the grommets of the soiledtowels are separated from the-chain, and the grommets of; thecleantowels are applied upon the chain and the chain again attached to theeye. The grommets are again applied tothe rod I5, in alternate relationwith the ejector elements 2.3.,

It is to be understood that the form of. my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken asv a preferred, example of the same and that.various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without: departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention whatv I claim is;

I. In a machine for vending towels hayinggrommets, a rod to receive thegrommets there on and having a free end, a flexible element connectedwith. the free end of the rod, a second rodarranged' near the firstnamed rod and extending longitudinally thereof, ejector elementsslidably mounted. upon the second named rod to move longitudinallythereof andalternately arranged with relation to the. towels and havingparts projecting, between the towels to detachably engage therewith,means to engage with the leading ejector element to normally hold thesame against movement toward the free end of the first named rod, andmeans to actuate the holding means to release the foremost grommet andthen shift the leading grommet toward the free end of the first namedrod.

2. In a machine for vending towels having grommets, a rod to receive thegrommets thereon and having a forward free end, a fiexible elementconnected with the free end, a second rod arranged near the first namedrod and extending longitudinally thereof, ejector elements mounted uponthe second named rod to move longitudinally thereof and alternatelyarranged with relation to the towels and having parts projecting betweenthe towels to detachably engage therewith, means to shift all of theejector elements forwardly upon their rod, releasable means to engagethe foremost ejector element to hold the same against forward movement,and means to actuate the holding means so that the foremost ejectorelement is released and to then shift the foremost ejector elementforwardly,

3. In a machine for vending towels having grommets, a rod to receive thegrommets thereon and having a free end, a flexible element connectedwith the free end, a second rod arranged near the first named rod andextending longitudinally thereof, ejector elements mounted upon thesecond named rod to move longitudinally thereof and alternately arrangedwith relation to the grommets and having parts projecting between thetowels, means to shift the ejector elements toward the free end of thegrommet receiving rod, a pair of springs disposed upon opposite sides ofthe ejector elements and provided with inwardly projecting jaws toengage the leading ejector element, a plunger arranged near the jaws andhaving heads arranged to pass between the leading ejector element andthe next ejector element, said heads having inclined surfaces to engagewith the springs and spread them so that the jaws release the leadingejector element, said plunger also having an inclined face to engagewith the leading ejector element and shift the same toward the free endof the grommet receiving rod.

4. In a machine for vending towels having grommets, a rod to receivethe; grommets there: on and having a free end, a flexible element con:nected with the free end, a second rod arranged near the first named rodand extending longi, tudinally thereof, ejector elements having openingsfor receiving the second named rod. and alternately arrangedwithrelation to the towels,- the ejector elements having spaced pairs offingers disposed upon opposite sides of the second rod and projecting.between the grommets, means to shift the ejector elements toward thefree. end of the grommet receiving rod, a pair of spaced spring actionelements disposed upon. op. posite sides of the ejector elements andhaving jaws to engage the, leading ejector elementto hold, it againstmovement toward the free end. of the grommet receiving rod, aplunger'arrangeda near the jaws. and having a pair of spaced downwardlytapering heads to pass between the, leach ing ejector element and thenext ejector element; and spread the spring action elements to cause thejaws to release the leading ejector element, said plunger havingdownwardly converging faces to pass between therleading ejector-elsementand the next ejector element and also having a cam to engage with theleading ejector element and shift the same toward the free end of thegrommet receiving rod, and means to move the plunger.

5. In a machine for vending towels having grommets, a rod to receive thegrommets thereon and having a free end, a flexible element attached tosuch free end, a second rod arranged near the first named rod andextending longitudinally thereof and projecting beyond the free end fora substantial distance, ejector elements permanently mounted upon thesecond named rod to move longitudinally thereof and having partsarranged between the towels in alternate relation therewith, and meansto engage the leading ejector element to shift the same toward the freeend of the grommet receiving rod.

6. In a machine for vending towels having grommets, a rod to receive thegrommets thereon and having a free end, a flexible element attached tosuch free end, a second rod arranged near the first named rod andextending longitudinally thereof and projecting beyond the said free endfor a substantial distance, ejector elements permanently mounted uponthe second named rod and having parts disposed between the towels andalternately arranged with relation to the grommets, means to feed theejector elements as a unit toward the free end of the grommet receivingrod, releasable holding means to engage with the leading ejectorelement, a plunger arranged near the leading ejector element havingmeans to actuate the releasable holding means and means to engage theforemost ejector element to shift the same toward (3 ejector elementsmounted upon the second named I rod to move longitudinally thereof andhaving parts arranged between the towels and disposed alternately withrelation thereto, a pair of jaws arranged to engage over the oppositeedges of the foremost ejector element, means to spread the jaws, andmeans to shift the foremost ejector element forwardly.

8. In a machine for vending towels having grommets, a rod to receive thegrommets thereon, ejector blocks alternately arranged with respect tothetowels and having parts for controlling the advancing movement of thetowels, said ejector blocks having openings formed therein, means toadvance and guide the ejector blocks as a unit including a rod passingthrough the openings of the same, a pair of spaced jaws arranged toengage the leading ejector block, and means to spread the jaws torelease the leading ejector block.

9. In a machine for vending articles, a guide rod, article holding meanshaving a portion thereof arranged generally parallel with the guide rodand a portion projecting laterally from the guide rod, ejector elementsslidably mounted upon the guide rod and alternately arranged withrelation to the articles and having parts projecting between thearticles, the arrangement being such that when the leading ejectorelement moves forwardly upon its guide rod the corresponding leadingarticle will move upon the laterally projecting portion of the guidemeans and will be separated from such ejector element, and releasablemeans for detachable engagement with the leading ejector element.

10. In a towel vending machine, a guide rod, ejector blocks havingopenings for receiving the guide rod, each ejector block having a forkedend, a towel guiding element having a part arranged generally parallelwith the rod and a part extending laterally from the rod, towels havinggrommets mounted upon the towel guiding element, the ejector blockscorresponding in number to the towels and alternately arranged withrelation thereto with their forked ends extending between the towels,the arrangement being such that as each leading ejector block is movedforwardly upon its rod and the leading towel moves upon the laterallyprojecting portion of the towel guiding element such ejector block andtowel are separated, and means for releasing the leading ejector elementand holding the next ejector element against forward movement.

HARRY F. MAYFIELD.

